Ashok Shinde doubts if Wazir Singh would be able to make it for the Maharashtra derby

Puneri Paltan made the most of the home advantage as they rallied from being 18-11 down at a point to clinch a 5-point win over Dabang Delhi in the Pune Leg opener on Sunday. Despite carrying an injury Wazir Singh took to the field to guide his rather inexperienced team, but was used sparingly by his coach Ashok Shinde yet again.

But while speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashok Shinde felt he may have to give Wazir Singh a day’s rest so that he could recover from his toe injury. “Wazir is carrying an injury. He dislocated his toe while training and hasn’t fully recovered yet. So he needs to rest after a game to be able to take some part in the next one. So ideally he needs at least a day’s rest”, said the Puneri Paltan coach.

Ashok Shinde revealed how the lack of experience in his side has forced him to have Wazir Singh on the field to ensure the Paltan don’t crumble under the pressure. “We have a very inexperienced team and they need to have someone who could stabilize them in tough situations. Wazir’s sheer presence on the field gives the team a huge boost and that’s why I choose to have him around even if he isn’t fit”, added Ashok Shinde.

But the wily Puneri Paltan skipper Wazir Singh was still able to get three raid points in the game despite having made very few raids. Such is the potency of Wazir Singh that he got the entire arena on their feet every time he stepped up to raid.

It will be interesting to see what coach Ashok Shinde chooses to do with Wazir Singh for today’s clash as U-Mumba are a completely different proposition and will put the hosts under tremendous pressure. Probably it will be an acid test of the Puneri Paltan’s squad when they take on leaders U-Mumba most probably without their skipper Wazir Singh.